The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Summer camp provides unique opportunities for campers and staff alike! Keith Peters — Director of Summer and Youth Ministry at Camp Lutherhaven in Albion, Indiana, and Derrick "Rocky" Minnick — Ministry Impact Worker at Camp Lutherhaven, join Andy and Sarah to talk about their memories of time at camp, how camp experiences impact kids and teens, the outlook for staff this summer at NLOMA Camps, and how to apply to work at camp this summer. Learn more and apply at nloma.org.

We embark on the epic story that is the creation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri. In this episode, we begin in mid-1800s Saxony and Prussia, focusing on the Prussian Union. What prompted the immigration from Saxony to the United States in the mid-1800s? What are rationalism and unionism, and how did these deeply affect Lutherans in the German states?Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the LCMS. Find more from Dr. Mackenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.

How can Lutheran congregations support military service members and veterans through Operation Barnabas? Jill Tendler — Operation Barnabas volunteer at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Eureka, MO, and Lee Hinton — Administrative Coordinator for LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, join Andy and Sarah to talk about Jill's military family story, why Operation Barnabas is important to her, and how small actions make a huge difference for veterans and military families. Learn more at 314-996-1337 andlcms.org/ministry-to-the-armed-forces/operation-barnabas.Photo: Jill's Father's New Testament (mentioned in the episode) that saved his life.

Every four years in the USA, the presidential campaign preoccupies our populace, culminating in the November election of the next “president elect.” But for Christians, whose “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), the most important “election” has been made by God and revealed in our Baptism into Christ: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). As God’s “elect exiles” (1 Peter 1:1) during our pilgrimage through a sinful world on the way to our heavenly home, the First Epistle of St. Peter is a wonderful guide for our life together in Christian communities today under “the Shepherd and Overseer” (1 Peter 2:25) of our souls.Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the January 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled "A Community of Exiles" on 1 Peter 1:1-12. This year, "Searching Scripture" is themed "Elect Exiles" and will walk through the First Epistle of St. Peter. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us!Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.1 Peter 1:1–12Greeting1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:May grace and peace be multiplied to you.Born Again to a Living Hope3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.Read full chapterFootnotes1 Peter 1:11 Or what time or circumstancesEnglish Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org

Rev. James and Deaconess Christel Neuendorf, who serve the Lord in Puerto Rico, join Andy and Sarah to talk about some history and trivia about where they live and serve in Puerto Rico, how Advent and Christmas is observed in their churches and communities, how seriously Puerto Ricans take Christmas (hint: a lot), some of the local traditions, and their own family traditions. Learn more about the Neuendorfs and how to support their work at lcms.org/neuendorf.

Joyce Erber, who serves the Lord in Accra, Ghana, with her husband Rev. David Erber, joins Sarah to talk about the Lutheran Women's group she serves with in Ghana, how this group serves the community around them, how Advent and Christmas is observed in West Africa, and their own family traditions for Christmas. Learn more about the Erbers and how to support their work at lcms.org/erber.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minot, ND, and author of Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? available from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah in our series on the Sundays in Advent to talk about the Gospel Reading for the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Why did the Jew ask who John was, and why did the Pharisees care? Are there different kinds of Baptism? What does John mean when he talks about the Lamb of God?John 1:19-29The Testimony of John the Baptist19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[a] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.Behold, the Lamb of God29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!Read full chapterFootnotesJohn 1:23 Or crying out, ‘In the wilderness make straightEnglish Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org

Rev. Brian Hamer, active duty Navy Chaplain and author of the Lifted Voice column in Around the Word: Theology for the Curious Christian, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Luther's first Christmas hymn, "We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth" (Lutheran Service Book 382), including Martin Luther as a hymn writer, Luther's theology of music, how this hymn describes Christ's incarnation, and how our sung confession is incarnational, not "attractional."

Deaconess Kim Bueltmann, serving the Lord in Germany, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Weihnachten (Christmas) in Deutschland (Germany), including some history about Leipzig and Chemnitz where she lives and works, how Advent and Christmas are observed in Germany, what Christkindlesmarkts are like in Germany, how the influx of refugees has shaped the local traditions how Bach is a part of local traditions, and traditional Christmas foods. Learn more about Deaconess Kim and how to support her work at lcms.org/bueltmann.

Chaplain Steven Hokana — Assistant Director of LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, and Lee Hinton — Administrative Coordinator for LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about their own time in the armed forces, how they became interested in military service, what deployment is like, how Christmas is observed during deployment, how Chaplains made an incredible difference while deployed, and the path to becoming an LCMS Chaplain in the Armed Forces. Learn more about LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces at lcms.org/armedforces.Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.